RTVE launches youth-focused interactive online TV service

Spanish public broadcaster RTVE has launched a new online video service targeted at a young audience featuring original and interactive content.

The new service, Playz, is designed to create an open space for young Spanish content creators to target a new audience, according to the pubcaster.

Playz kicked off at the weekend by streaming the final episode of RTVE’s first foray into interactive ‘transmedia’ programming, Si fueras tú cuando, which included interaction between the leading characters and the audience via social networks. The show, the first season of which kicked off two months ago, immediately attracted 750,000 followers on Instagram and had two million views.

Content on Playz will be available on the web, mobile devices and smart TVs via RTVE’s red button service. Users can also access Playz content via YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Other shows on the platform drama Colegas, musical comedy Mambo, psychological thriller Dorien, a reimagining of The Picture of Dorian Gray on the life of a Madrid-based hipster, and interactive series Inhibidos, produced in collaboration with Grupo Ganga, which will allow users to interact with the on-screen protagonists in real-time via the interactive player.

Playz will also feature interview-based features such as YouTubers-focused The Challengers, produced in collaboration with 2btube, cooking series Playchez and comedy space Gente Viva.

The service will also feature magazine programs, documentaries, sports features such La Liga Royale Champions League and live transmissions.